Words I never Tell

Chapter 34

Hariette

"Anything wrong, sweetheart?"

Napailing lang ako sa Dad ko matapos titigan ulit yung pagkain na nasa plate ko. On my usual, dapat magana akong kumain ngayon because everything on the table is my favorite. Kaso mula nung nanggaling kami sa Balesin kahapon ay namimiss ko na naman si Candice.

Should I drop at her unit and check her? Siguro naman I have the right di ba? As far as I know, I am still her girlfriend.

"Hariette?"

I blinked twice upon hearing my name again that stopped my trail of thoughts.

"Yes Dad?"

"I am asking you if there's something bothering you. Are you okay?"

Kanina ko pa dama yung bigat ng mga titig nila sakin ni Mommy. Actually, noon pa nila ako gustong kausapin mula ng bumalik ako ulit ng bahay after ng break-up namin ni Alliston. Siguro iniisip nila na apektado ako. Pero dahil pare-pareho nga kaming busy, ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkasabay sabay maglunch.

That only made me guilty for lying to them.

"Yes. Of course. Uhm, I am just thinking about the business I'm working." Palusot ko na lang.

Ang dami na kasing iniisip ng parents ko para dumagdag pa ako sa mga pinoproblema nila. I am no longer a baby na dapat na isipin pa nila.

"Do you want to go with me? I'll be attending an International Conference about mining and mineralogy in Germany by next week. It will be helpful for you." Offer pa ni Dad habang in-slice yung wagyu beef nito.

My Mom just gently tap his arm. "I don't think our daughter will want to attend such, Harold. She's starting up her perfumery. It will be better if you will stop dragging her sa mga ganyang events na yan. It's not her forte. Let her live her own life."

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. I just thought she might need a new environment to recover from..you already know what." Tipid na ngumiti pa nga ito habang nakatingin sakin.

Mas lalo akong natahimik habang naririnig kung paano mag-usap yung parents ko. They really thought I was brokenhearted because of Alli and I's break up. They both seem worried about me. Ang kaibahan lang, my father is used in pampering me kapag alam nyang hindi ako okay. While my Mother is just letting me to do what I want. But the truth is, pareho silang nakabantay sakin.

When I was five, isinama nila ako noon sa birthday party ng kaalyado ni Dad sa negosyo. They were so busy back then that they have forgotten about me. Lagi akong naiiwan sa mesa sa tuwing may makikita silang kakilala noon.

I was so mad at them that I am planning to get even kaya nagtangka sana akong umalis kung saan nila ako iniwan para mataranta din sila sa paghahanap sakin. Palabas na sana ako noon ng gate ng mapansin ko yung batang kasing-edad ko lang din na nagtago sa ilalim ng lamesa.

Out of curiosity, I went under that same table too. She was crying and terrified. Somewhat lost, asking for her Mom. Yeah, it was Railey. She was crying because she thought her mother sold her to a foster family. That made me realize how lucky I am to have both of my parents na hindi kayang gawin sakin iyon. So I stayed there for hours kahit pareho na namin naririnig yung tawag ng mga tao sa mga pangalan namin. Pareho na nga yata kami nakatulog noon ni Rail sa ilalim ng mesa kakaiyak.

I woke up back then on my father's arms. My mom was crying, saying she is so damned sorry and worried about me. Even my Dad na alalang alala din sakin habang hawak si Rail.

I was thinking, why Railey wasn't found by her parents tapos ako nahanap ako ng parents ko? I felt sorry for her. And thankful because she made me realize how blessed I am.